uscp

• culture


  passed down from generation to generation.
• culture


  the way of life for an entire society.
• material culture


  tangible such as food, clothing and fashion, buildings and properties, arts and technology.
• non-material culture


  intangible such as ideas and knowledge, beliefs and tradition, symbols and language, behavior and religion.
• cultural variation


  refers to the differences in social behaviors that different cultures exhibit around the world.
• 3 parts of cultural variation

  1. religion
  2. ethnicity
  3. nationality
• religion


  set of beliefs and practices. gives meaning and purpose to life.
• ethnicity


  belonging to a population group. refers to shared cultural characteristics.
• nationality


  the status of belonging to a particular nation.
• culture is composed of behavior acquired and transmitted through symbols.
• culture consists of experiences that are organized.
• characteristics of culture

  culture is social because it is a product of behavior.
• characteristics of culture

  culture varies from society to society, every society has a culture of its own.
• characteristics of culture

  culture is shared.

  1. customs, traditions, beliefs, ideas, values, morals are all shared by people of a group or society.
• characteristics of culture

  culture is learned. based from education, a formal discussion or from your family.
• characteristics of culture

  culture is transmitted. from one generation to another.
• characteristics of culture

  culture is continuous and cumulative.
• characteristics of culture

  culture is gratifying and idealistic. culture provides proper opportunities for the satisfaction of our needs and desires.
• elements of culture

  1. norms (formal & informal)
  2. symbols
  3. values
  4. beliefs
  5. language
  6. taboos
• norms


  these are the standard, an expected behavior within a society. it is divided into two parts: formal and informal norms.
• formal norms

  mores - have a firm control of moral and ethical behavior.

  laws - ordinances of reason to protect ppl
• informal norms

  folkways or customs - behaviors of less importance yet still influence our behavior.

  ex: doing mano po
• symbols 


  carry a meaning recognized by people who share a culture.

  ex: a symbol of cross refers to Christianity while crescent shape is for Islam.
• values


  culturally defined standards.
• beliefs


  specific statements that people hold to be true.

  ex: superstitious beliefs
• language


  form of communication using words.
• taboos

  •  crucial to a society’s moral center, involving behaviors that are always negatively sanctioned.
  • ex: incest, cannibalism
• Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

  emerging societies of survival and primarily based on the concept of natural law.
• Karl Marx (1818-1883) – he proposed that societies develop through class conflicts.
• Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) – he said that society is composed of harmonious elements such as individuals, organizations, and social institutions.
• George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) introduced the concept of symbolic interactionism.

  • According to this, society can be seen at a micro-level that focuses on the relationships of individuals within a society primarily centered in their communication both language and symbols.